That ache in your head that refuses to go away is painful and annoying. People suffer from different types of migraines, typical and rare. Over 70% of migraine sufferers don’t receive a proper diagnosis. You will want to know why that dull ache is so persistent, and how to get rid of it.
Causes of Different Types of Migraines
This condition is like a neurological disease affecting the head. People have long believed that it occurs because of the construction of blood vessels in the head or neck. It causes the nerves to release chemicals that loop around the brain’s arteries. The sudden influx of chemicals causes intense pain.
Migraine triggers vary for different people, as you will conclude from a discussion of the different types of migraines below. However, there are a few common ones.
1. Emotional Stress
First of all is stress. You probably know that emotional or mental stress can worsen a migraine. Excitement, depression, and anxiety can set off migraine symptoms. According to a study, it causes maladaptive responses in the brain and damages it.
The brain releases chemicals during stressful moments. These substances help ease the tension in the head. Beneficial as they are, they have one drawback – they cause vascular changes, which. In turn, triggers a migraine.
2. Dieting
Here’s the perfect excuse to eat. It’s official – dieting lowers blood sugar and causes headaches.
New diets, in particular, cause blood sugar fluctuations. Consuming water and multivitamins will relieve the symptoms. A 1983 study by the Hospital for Sick Children for London found that children prone to migraines eased their symptoms when they avoided certain foods. These include:
- meat
- citrus fruits
- chocolate
- dairy products
- eggs
- peanuts
- wheat
- tomatoes
- banana
- apples
- onions
- corn
3. Alcohol
Studies have proven that alcohol consumption can induce migraines. A review of studies on alcohol-induced headaches confirms that it acts as a trigger if drunk in excess.
4. Eyestrain
Another reason for that constant migraine is fixating on your computer screen. Eye fatigue May set in because of the exposure to bright or harsh light. Wearing contact lenses for extended hours exacerbates the pain. This controlled study concludes that eye fatigue contributes to throbbing headaches.
5. Smells
Do you find yourself feeling faint when you smell perfume or cologne? Pungent smells often trigger migraines. Researchers have proven that overwhelming odors are the leading causes of headaches among men.
6. Food allergies
Some fruits can set off migraine symptoms. The guiltiest culprits are chocolate, citrus, nuts, and caffeine. It’s always wise to eat your meals on time. Delaying them could trigger a nasty migraine.
7. Menstruation
Headaches typically strike women during their first periods, owing to the psychological and physical changes they experience. A period causes extreme discomfort. To avoid period-induced migraines, make sure that you take your pain medication regularly.
8. Extreme weather
You could also blame your headaches on climate change. Shifts in temperature and barometric pressure can cause a migraine attack.
9. Sugar
Low blood sugar causes giddiness and migraines. Consuming foods high in sugar content can trigger severe migraine attacks. Even sugar alternatives can set off migraines.
10. Sleeplessness
Improper sleep is another leading cause of headaches. With our fast-paced lives, it is a valuable treasure. The American Headache Societypublished a study which confirms that lack of sleep is a cause of migraines. When it’s time for bed, put all your electronic devices away. You will keep headaches and sleeping disorders at bay.
Symptoms of a Migraine
The symptoms of a severe headache are straightforward, but it’s always wise to clarify them. Here are a few signs that you are having a migraine.
1. Depression
First of all, some people may feel down in the dumps for no apparent reason. Researchers have found a possible link between migraines and depression.
2. Stuffy nose
Also, sinus symptoms often accompany migraines. Sinuses and headaches occur together so often that doctors may misdiagnose sinusitis for migraines, and vice versa, according to this study.
3. Throbbing pain in the head
The most obvious symptom of a migraine is a pain in the head. The National Headache Foundation says that the number of people who experience pain on one or both sides of the head is around 84%.
4. Neck Pain
Many people who suffer from migraines experience an accompanying pain in the neck. The National Headache Foundation found that they number around 38%.
5. Numbness
Furthermore, a severe headache may come with numbness or a tingling sensation in one part of the body.
6. Frequent use of the loo
Frequent urination is a sign of an impending migraine. This symptom may evidence itself as early as two days before its onset.
7. Nausea
Migraine sufferers often suffer from nausea. A study published in the Journal of Pain Research found that migraine patients who had nausea also experienced depression.
8. Trouble Speaking
Sudden speech difficulty is another sign of an impending migraine. If you experience this symptom, do visit the doctor to make sure that it isn’t a precursor of a worse situation, like a stroke.
9. Vertigo
A basilar-type migraine can cause double vision or sudden loss of vision. Patients with severe headaches are likely to experience this symptom.
10. Hangover
Finally, you may not have had a drink, but may still experience the symptoms of a Hangover if you have a migraine. Weakness, dizziness, and trouble concentrating are all signs that a headache to remember is on the way.
Different Types of Migraines
A migraine is a straightforward condition, but there lies more beneath its surface. There are various migraine types, and thankfully, natural ways to cope with them.
a. Major Migraines
A migraine that occurs most often doesn’t have an aura. Its symptoms include a throbbing headache accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, and confusion. Moving about and frequent medication worsens the attack.
A migraine with an aura, or a complicated migraine, causes a person to lose his vision temporarily. It can occur without a headache and strike at any time. In some cases, nausea, light sensitivity, and trouble speaking happen before the attack. An aura migraine lasts for about an hour.
Patients who experience them may have tension-type headaches. It’s possible to have a migraine that fits more than one category.
b. Other Migraine Types
i. Migraines with Aura
Experiencing migraine without the accompanying aches is possible. The symptoms of such a headache are similar to those of a typical migraine. Nausea and constipation occur without a patient experiencing any pain in the head. Fever., giddiness, or pain in parts of the body other than the head could also be migraines.
ii. A migraine with brainstorm aura
Headaches of this kind typically affect children. Like migraines with Auras, their symptoms originate from the brainstem, but there is no accompanying motor weakness. Teenage girls may experience these types of headaches during their menstrual cycles. Symptoms include double vision, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), lack of muscle coordination and slurred speech.
iii. A hemiplegic Migraine
Migraines of this type are rare but severe. They cause temporary paralysis that may last for a few days. Sufferers may have problems seeing, speaking, or swallowing. Hemiplegic migraines are genetic, and at least three types of them exist. They make the brain especially sensitive or excitable.
iv. A retinal Migraine
Retinal Migraines are rare and characterized by vision loss in one eye. Doctors usually associate them with migraine headaches.
v. A chronic Migraine
You’ll recognize a chronic migraine by pain that persists for about 15 days per month or more. Doctors usually recommend preventive medications for such migraines. They could be with or without an aura. A patient’s goal should be to keep headaches from progressing from episodic (occasional) to chronic (lasting).
Ways to Stop a Migraine Naturally
Pain in the head is a nuisance, but there are ways to stop them from happening. Changing your food habits plays a large part in keeping different types of migraines at bay.
1. Watch your diet
First of all, the saying that ‘you are what you eat’ rings true. A migraine is possible if you avoid certain foods. Many have a reputation for triggering migraines. These include:
- Nitrate-rich foods, like hot dogs
- Chocolate
- Cheese that has tyramine
- Alcohol, particularly red wine
- Foods with monosodium glutamate
- Cold foods
- Processed foods
- Beans
- Pickled foods
- dried fruits
- Cultured dairy products
2. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil may ease those migraines. According to 2012 research, those who used lavender oil for headaches had faster relief than those who used placebos.
3. Acupressure
Acupressure, a form of traditional Chinese Medicine, involves applying pressure to different points in the body to relieve pain. A 2014 systemic review shows that it is a useful therapy for people who experience chronic headaches.
5. Feverfew
Feverfew, which is a flowering herb, is a remedy for severe migraines. A 20014 systemic review maintains that there isn’t enough evidence to show that it works, but users testify to its effectiveness.
6. Peppermint oil
This refreshing oil prevents migraines. This 2010 study showed that it was more effective than a placebo for stopping headaches.
7. Ginger
Ginger enhances a person’s well-being. According to this study, it decreased the severity of migraines in patients.
In all, there are ways to stop different types of migraines naturally, if you know what kind of a headache you have and use natural remedies.